ULM Honor Graduate

718 graduates, one outstanding Marine. John Tyler Collins, one of the few, the proud. Hes a Marine, a pilot, a national champion ski team member, and now a graduate of the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Looking back over the years his favorite memory is winning a national ski title at ULM. Collins said, "That meant a lot to me, being a freshman, to be able to help the team out." It was ULMs 18th national title. John said it was possible to practice and go to events because of all the teachers support. He said, "The teachers really work with the students, they will allow us the time we need to get in our assignments." The ski team was not Johns only activity outside of his studies. He has been a licenced pilot for over two and a half years. He said, "Theres no greater feeling in the workd than to be able to float around in the sky at your own control." He continued, "Ive reached many goals in my life that lead to that one goal that is to be an F-18 pilot...Im still driving towards that slot to one day fly in the sky as fighter pilot." After graduating and being commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marines, John will go to Virginia for six months of basic training. Then off to Florida for three more years of flight school for the Marines. Collins said, "Your sense of pride, your honor, your duty to your country everything in that sense increases." John says all the training is worth the honor despite the hard times when family and home are hundreds of miles away. "I know there are times when things get dificult and you just cant give up in those difficult times...you just keep pressing forward," he said. John said he will spend the next 20 years in active duty for the Marines. As for his college years: "Ive enjoyed the opportunities Ive had at ULM. This is a great university to achieve the goals you want to achieve and wouldnt have traded it for any other college in the country to go to." -Candace Miers, NBC 10 News